Few Pakistani fast bowlers have been as wily and smart as Mohammad Asif, though fewer have been as prone to scandal and controversy off the field. Neither claim can easily be made given the rich competition.

But such is the magic in the loose wrists of Asif. Pace is not his calling - he abhors such measurements - but he is unerringly accurate and cuts the ball either way with wicked regularity and glee. He is tall and lean so to these skills is added bounce and a natural ability to bowl long spells. An easy action and easier run-up mean that watching a long Asif spell, watching him out-think batsmen, is an experience in cricket not to be missed.

On several occasions, in Kandy, in Karachi, at The Oval, in South Africa, and in Sydney, all of it has come together in spells not only of the very highest quality, but of crucial importance to Pakistan's cause. But if ever a young, small-town man was blinded by the bright lights of a big city and fame, it was Asif.

Already, unforgivably, he has tested positive for steroids twice. Soon after the second offence, he was caught with a recreational drug in his wallet at Dubai airport and kept in detention for three weeks. Most seriously he was charged in 2010 with spot-fixing - bowling pre-planned, deliberate no-balls - and in February 2011 he was handed a seven-year ban, with two years suspended, by the ICC. With relation to these charges, he was tried at the Southwark Crown Court in London in October, and found guilty of cheating and accepting corrupt payments on November 1. He was sentenced to one year in prison.

After an unsuccessful appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April to reduce his suspension period, Asif confessed to his involvement in spot-fixing in August 2013 Osman Samiuddin

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Timeline

January 2, 2005 Dead rubber, deader debut

Makes his Test debut in the dead rubber against Australia in Sydney. Finishes the match with figures of 0 for 72 and 0 for 16 as Pakistan lose be nine wickets. Is dropped until December.

November 6-8, 2005 'A' rated

Bowls Pakistan A to victory against England with 7 for 62 and 3 for 44 in a tour match, but misses out on a Test spot. Is included in the squad for the third Test, but is left out of the XI.

Makes one-day debut in the fifth ODI in Rawalpindi against England. Dismisses Marcus Trescothick in his first over and takes 2 for 14 in seven overs, but Pakistan lose the match.

January 21-25, 2006 Second coming, but similar results

On a Faisalabad pancake, makes a Test comeback against India. Takes 1 for 103, as India score 603 in response to Pakistan's 588.

January 29 - February 1, 2006 The turnaround

In his third Test, in Karachi, after Irfan Pathan is done with his hat-trick and Kamran Akmal with his rescue act, takes 4 for 78 and 3 for 48 to help Pakistan win by 341 runs. Later says he likes bowling to batsmen like Rahul Dravid.

Takes 6 for 44 and 5 for 26 in the Kandy Test, and helps Pakistan turn around a 109-run deficit and win the match, and the series by a 1-0 margin. Wins the Man-of-the-Series award for taking 17 wickets in two Tests.

July-August, 2006 Injury, and then controversy

Misses the first three Tests on the tour of England due to an elbow injury, but joins the squad for the fourth Test. The Oval Test, of course, went on to become the most infamous one in recent times.

October 16, 2006 High and low

Tests positive, along with Shoaib Akhtar, for banned anabolic steroid Nandrolone during an internal dope test carried out by the PCB. They are recalled to Pakistan, and miss the Champions Trophy in India. Asif pleads innocence, claiming he has not willfully taken any performance-enhancing drugs.

Makes a stunning return to international cricket, taking 5 for 83 in the first innings against South Africa at Centurion. Manages 2 for 56 in the second, as South Africa chase down 199 easily.

February 13, 2007 Dope drama persists

Is included in Pakistan's squad for the World Cup, but is still under a cloud over the doping issue. Is due to undergo another internal PCB dope test on February 17, and is likely to face a ban if he still retains traces of Nandrolone. Is also carrying an injury.

August 4, 2007 Negative is positive

Clears a dope test conducted at a fitness and training camp in Karachi.

In South Africa for the ICC World Twenty20, is hit on his left thigh during a spat with Shoaib Akhtar. Says four days later: "Shoaib did strike me with the bat over a little issue, and got enraged for no valid reason."

October-November, 2007 Elbowed out

Due to a right elbow injury, misses four matches of the five-ODI home series against South Africa. Doesn't heal in time for the Indian tour next month.

June 3, 2008 More drug problems

Is detained by authorities in Dubai on suspicion of possessing drugs. No charges have yet been brought, though he remains in the detention centre at the Dubai International Airport. According to a senior PCB official who is in Dubai handling the case, the substance has been sent to a lab for testing, but they do not know yet what it is.

Pakistan have recovered from Irfan Pathan's devastating hat-trick in the first over of the Karachi Test. Going by the trends in the series so far, the 245 they manage seems a small total, but India are now facing Asif on a juicy pitch. In the fourth over, Asif picks up the prized scalp of Rahul Dravid, and soon bowls the makeshift opener VVS Laxman as well. Yuvraj Singh makes a solid start, but Asif traps him lbw for 45. His 4 for 78 plays a huge role in restricting India to 238. In the final innings India are chasing an impossible 607, but the likelihood of them battling out a draw is bleak when Asif bowls Virender Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar to set up a massive victory. Asif later says he likes bowling to batsmen like Dravid.

6 for 44 and 5 for 26 v Sri Lanka, Kandy, 2005-06

Sri Lanka are formidable opponents at home, and the first Test of the two-match series has been drawn. Asif gives Pakistan a superb start in the second Test in Kandy by dismissing Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene cheaply. He slices through the tail, and finishes with 6 for 44, his first five-for in Tests. Pakistan, however, bat poorly in reply to Sri Lanka's 279, and concede a lead of 109. Asif is pure dynamite in the second innings, blowing away five of Sri Lanka's top six batsmen and reducing them to 65 for 6, setting up a rare home defeat for Sri Lanka.

2 for 34 and 5 for 76 v South Africa, Port Elizabeth, 2006-07

It is Asif's second Test since his comeback from the drugs scandal. In the match before this, he has taken a five-for in Centurion, but Pakistan go on to lose. In this, the Port Elizabeth Test, Pakistan have gained a significant 141-run lead in the first innings, and Asif consolidates the advantage by dismissing Graeme smith and AB de Villiers early. The South African middle order offer resistance but Asif keeps chipping away, trapping Jacques Kallis lbw for 91 and taking the crucial wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher in their forties. Asif finishes with 5 for 76 and South Africa are dismissed for 331, setting Pakistan a target of 191 that they achieve with five wickets in hand.

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